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25 Mar: Great White Egret again at Willington GP

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DOS News

Announcements

Conservation Corner - Mainly Barn Owls

Following the first mention of this survey in the December bulletin, we have had 9 volunteers collectively offer to take on 23 tetrads, leaving us with 68 tetrads still to cover. The only areas reasonably covered so far are the south of the county and around Carsington and Bolsover, but there are still vacant squares in all areas, so if you know how to identify Willow Tits, can you PLEASE contact me to take on a square or three. The survey requires two visits between mid-February and mid-April using playback of Willow Tit calls to check for responses. If you offer to take on squares, I can email you the calls and survey forms. Thank you. Richard Winspear, DOS Field Officer, richard.winspear@rspb.org.uk.
A new County Barn Owl Group was set up between about ten members and others with an interest in October. The group includes ringers, people who make and install barn owl boxes and others with a specific interest in the welfare of this species. Other counties have such groups and many are very active. This new Derbyshire group will aim to encourage appropriate farmers and landowners to put boxes up and attempt to monitor existing boxes and collate the data in one place, feeding into the national picture annually.
If you are involved with this species in any way do please get in touch with me, whether you wish to join the group or not. One urgent task is to identify where existing barn owl boxes are located and whether they have been successful. You will need a schedule 1 licence from Natural England to monitor a Barn Owl nest, but members of the group can advise on this.
Locations of breeding sites will be shared with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for the protection of sites from planning applications, but otherwise will be kept confidential and not allowed into the public domain.
If you might be interested to help in any way, please contact richard.winspear@rspb.org.uk.

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Willow Tit Survey

I would also like to remind members that the National Willow Tit survey is now underway, and if you want to claim one of the remaining tetrads for surveying, then an updated map is on the DOS website with tetrads already being surveyed shown with a red dot. Most of the vacant squares are clustered around Chapel-en-le-Frith, Chesterfield (and between here and Sheffield), Chatsworth and Matlock. Any help will be much appreciated: contact richard.winspear@rspb.org.uk for more information.
A list of the 2019 tetrads is here together with the survey methodology here. A tetrad is a 2km x 2km square and the website gives the bottom left 1km square for each tetrad. For example SK3222 includes squares SK3222, SK3223, SK3322 and SK3323. If you are able to cover any of the tetrads listed, then please contact me at richard.winspear@rspb.org.uk or leave a message for me on 07908 025121

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Willington GP

If you are interested in joining The Willington Volunteer Group and want to help maintain the nature reserve at WGP please email George Bird gbird@derbyshirewt.co.uk and become a registered volunteer. More information here

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Meetings and Trips page updated 21 February (major changes)

Please see the latest changes here

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THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK

As we are now in the breeding season please be sensible and responsible when using social media to report sightings for sensitve breeding species see here for help and guidance. Remember: the birds must come first.

More specific information for Derbyshires is now avalable here

And if you use Birdtrack here some addional advice is available here

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PLEASE REPORT BREEDING RECORDS

Please add breeding information to any bird records that you submit to DOS or via BirdTrack, such as occupied nests or adults carrying food or fledged young, as this makes the record far more valuable for conservation. A list of species in which we are particularly interested can be found here

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Wildlife Crime

If you witness or suspect wildlife crime then please contact the police (ask for a Wildlife Crime Officer) or RSPB. Your information will be dealt with in confidence but if, for any reason, you are reluctant to take either of those routes then please at least pass the information to Crimestoppers by ringing 0800 555111

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Check out the Carsington Bird Club website

You can let us know what you think or make suggestions for improvements using the feedback form. One or two users have reported issues with the contacts details overlaping the bird news. Please let me know if you have seen this problem, preferably with a screen shot, see here if you do not know how to take a screenshot

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The next indoor meeting will be in February The next planned Field Trip is in March More Details

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Birdwatchers are are asked to respect the following restrictions:

• Ambaston GP: Please stay on the public footpath
• Aston-on-Trent GP: This is a private working gravel pit with permit only access during working hours. The site cannot be seen from the A50 pull-in because of the height of trees/bushes. No access should be attempted AT ANY TIME, however, occasional visits organised by the DWT and DWT/DOS – places limited, see Meetings and Trips page
• Church Wilne Reservoir: There is currently no access to even permit holders at this site due to Security and Health and Safety at Work Issues
• Drakelow NR: Please do not walk in front of the main hide
• Foremark Reservoir: No access at any time to the area along the dam wall or the the west side of the reservoir
• High Bridge GP: Access from the A38 and take extreme care when crossing the hump-backed bridge. This is a dangerous working gravel pit and heavy lorries use the site during working hours so best visited in the evening or weekend but be aware work can occur at any time and parking is difficult during the working week. There should be no attempt to gain Access At Any Time. The best pit should only be viewed from the lane
• Willington GP: Please stay on the main tracks, do not use the gravel company roads. Currently The Canal Pit is very difficult to view from the Canal Bank or from the Canal Bridge due to tall vegetation. Signs now on this pit which say “No Access to Birdwatchers”.

Safety first!

Respect landowner's privacy

"The interests of the bird comes first"

Birdwatchers code of Conduct

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